Compressor and method of connecting pipe to the same

• US 20040188999A1
• Filed: 06/02/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Gwon, Young Soo
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/31
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/08 Joining pipes to walls or pipes, the joined pipe axis being perpendicular to the plane of the wall or to the axis of another pipe F16L41/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A compressor which has a pipe coupling structure capable of fluid-tightly connecting a refrigerant pipe to a pipe coupling port, without needing any welding process to connect the pipe to the pipe coupling port, and a method of connecting the refrigerant pipe to the pipe coupling port of the compressor. The compressor includes a pipe to form a refrigerant path through which a refrigerant flows, a pipe coupling port connected to the pipe, and a hollow bushing having an inner surface to define a hole to receive an end of the pipe, and an outer surface to come into contact with the pipe coupling port, when the hollow bushing is thrust at an end thereof, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, so as to be compression-fitted into the pipe coupling port. The method includes inserting the hollow bushing into the pipe coupling port, inserting the end of the pipe into the hole of the hollow bushing, and thrusting the hollow bushing at the end of the bushing, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, so as to compression-fit the bushing into the pipe coupling port. The present invention simplifies a pipe connecting process, reduces the number of pipe coupling elements to improve productivity during the pipe connecting process, and accomplishes a firm pipe coupling structure and a desired sealing effect at a junction of the pipe and the port.

Claims

1. The compressor, comprising:

a pipe coupling structure formed by a hollow bushing which has an inner surface to define a hole to receive an end of a refrigerant pipe, and an outer surface to come into contact with a pipe coupling port of the compressor, when the hollow bushing is thrust at an end thereof, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, so as to be compression-fitted into the pipe coupling port to connect the refrigerant pipe to the pipe coupling port.

2. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the hollow bushing is tapered such that the end of the hollow bushing, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, has a larger outer diameter.

3. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the hollow bushing is compression-fitted into the pipe coupling port in a same direction as a refrigerant flowing direction.

4. A compressor, comprising:

a pipe to form a refrigerant path through which a refrigerant flows;

a pipe coupling port connected to the pipe; and

a hollow bushing having an inner surface to define a hole to receive an end of the pipe, and an outer surface to come into contact with the pipe coupling port, when the hollow bushing is thrust at an end thereof, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, so as to be compression-fitted into the pipe coupling port.

5. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the outer surface of the hollow bushing is tapered such that the end of the hollow bushing, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, has a larger outer diameter.

6. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the pipe is an exhaust pipe through which the refrigerant is discharged from the compressor after being compressed.

7. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the pipe is a suction pipe through which the refrigerant is sucked into the compressor.

8. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the hollow bushing is compression-fitted into the pipe coupling port in a same direction as a refrigerant flowing direction.

9. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the hollow bushing is made of brass.

10. A method of connecting a pipe to a pipe coupling port of a compressor, comprising:

inserting a hollow bushing into the pipe coupling port;

inserting an end of the pipe into a hole defined by an inner surface of the hollow bushing; and

thrusting the hollow bushing at an end of the bushing, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, so as to compression-fit the bushing into the pipe coupling port and connect the refrigerant pipe to the pipe coupling port.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the end of the pipe is inserted into the hole of the hollow bushing in a direction opposite to a direction in which the hollow bushing is inserted into the pipe coupling port.

13. The method according to claim 10 or 12, wherein the hollow bushing is thrust in a same direction as a refrigerant flowing direction.

12. A method of connecting a pipe to a pipe coupling port of a compressor, comprising:

passing an end of the pipe through the pipe coupling port, and inserting the end of the pipe into a hole of a hollow bushing, which is defined by an inner surface of the hollow bushing;

inserting the hollow bushing, receiving the end of the pipe therein, into the pipe coupling port; and

thrusting the hollow bushing at an end of the bushing, at which the end of the refrigerant pipe is placed, so as to compression-fit the bushing into the pipe coupling port and connect the refrigerant pipe to the pipe coupling port.